Gaslight Street : Idle Speed

Changes in the Gaslight Street camp following the recording of their sophomore release, Idle Speed, could have left the Charleston, South Carolina-based group at a standstill. Multi-instrumentalist Jason Stokes and drummer Brooks Dubose departed, leaving frontman Campbell Brown and bassist Frank Nelson carrying the torch for the groupâ€™s accessible Southern rock.

Theyâ€™ve done so impressively, though, delivering a solid release and taking to the road to give these nine songs the life they deserve â€“ on the stage. Make no mistake, these tracks also fare well on record; from the polished southern soul of â€œVicksburgâ€ to the slippery blues of â€œBlack as Coal,â€ Gaslight Street have crafted a signature sound that is equal parts honey and moonshine, with Brown the catalyst for the soul-infused swagger.

Fortunately, the band avoids any type of slump in this second release, and it plays as a proud successor to 2009â€™s Blue Skies for Fools. And while the band â€“ now rounded out by drummer Jack Friel, organist Whitt Algar, and electric pianist Howard Dlugasch â€“ is continually evolving, Idle Speed hints that the best is yet to come.

Idle Speed couldâ€™ve been the swan song for Gaslight Street. But the spark remains. The band is stoking it, and rightfully so.